The West Bengal government has initiated the implementation of the Rs 1,000 crore central development package for tea garden workers in the Darjeeling hills, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Friday. Speaking at a review meeting in Nabanna, Adhikari stated that around Rs 300 crore will be released this fiscal year under the Pradhan Mantri Cha Sramik Kalyan Yojana.
Previous Government's Failure
Adhikari criticized the previous government for not establishing the required state-level committee, which prevented the utilization of the Rs 300 crore allocated for Bengal. He emphasized that the Tea Board of India's deputy chairman, C Murugan, will visit Darjeeling on June 2 to initiate the fund release process.
Administrative Changes in Hills
The state government has appointed sub-divisional officers (SDOs) as administrators of civic bodies in Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik after the elected representatives in these bodies resigned. This move aims to ensure continuity in governance and development activities.
GTA's Non-Performance
During the review, the Chief Minister highlighted that Rs 180 crore had been allocated for the hills in 2025-26, but the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) had not executed any work. He further noted that the GTA failed to submit proposals for the Rs 170 crore allocated for 2026-27. GTA principal secretary Shama Parveen has been directed to coordinate with local MPs and MLAs to expedite these projects.
CBI to Investigate Teachers' Recruitment Scam
In a separate development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will take over the probe into the teachers' recruitment scam. The decision follows the state government's withdrawal of its challenge before the Supreme Court after a Calcutta High Court order directed a CBI investigation. Chief Minister Adhikari confirmed, 'We will withdraw from the case. Once that happens, the High Court's order directing a CBI investigation will come into effect.'
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